With so many resellers popping up on Etsy, it can be difficult for customers to tell if a business is actually handmade. It’s also challenging for makers who oftentimes feel like they’re competing with resellers who are selling similar products at a fraction of a cost.
So what’s a handmade seller to do? How can you better communicate to your customers that you’re an actual handmade business and not a reseller?
Let's go over how you can communicate you're a real handmade Etsy seller and help customers feel confident they're buying and supporting a handmade business.
Show them the process of your products being made
Whether you make jewelry, accessories, home decor or anything in between, showing your customers (notice I’m not saying “telling”) how you create your products through your product photos can provide them the insight they need to know they’re purchasing a product that’s handmade.
The last thing a customer wants is to buy something advertised as handmade only to receive a product that looks like it was cheaply made or worse, has a marking that says it was “Made in China” like you tend to find on mass produced products.
Bring your customers behind the scenes
Do you take progress photos when you’re making your products? If not, start doing it! Including photos of works in progress in your listings will show your customers that your product is handmade.
- Show your workspace
- Show designs or sketches of your work
- Show what your product looks like right before it all comes together
- Show the raw materials of your products
- Show yourself working at your computer or printing out your work
There’s lot of ideas to include in your listings. And don’t forget to include yourself! Show your customers the face behind the brand. Reseller shops are probably not showing off who is running the business, but handmade sellers probably are. So don’t forget to show yourself too.
Don’t neglect your About Me or Bio section
I LOVE reading about the person behind brands, especially craft businesses. From what inspired them, to where they live, where they create, how they got started and so on. Use this space to share more about who you are as a maker and don’t forget to include photos here too! Behind the scenes photos, photos of what inspires you, product photos, photos of you, lifestyle photos, etc., are all great options.
Make videos
Don’t forget to record videos!
Now that Etsy allows sellers to include videos in their listings (and the About Me section), these are a fantastic way to share behind the scenes moments with your customers. It allows you to bring your customers inside your world just like they were there with you, creating a more intimate look into your world and how you create.
What’s one way you’re going to show your customers you’re a handmade business? Drop me a comment below!